BELISARIO Donizetti

Opera RaraORC49

– CD

Opera Rara has come to
Donizetti’s rescue again with a
stunning performance of this
later masterpiece. The booklet
admits that the opera is patchy,
but its strengths far outweigh any
minor weaknesses. Structurally
the piece is curious, with the
soprano disappearing from the
central action, reappearing to sing
an aria and cabaletta separated by
an inordinately lengthy tempo di mezzo (the linking passage) that is
crammed with its own drama
and musical strengths. Mark Elder’s conducting
displays great belief
in the opera and he leads a passionate
performance. As Antonina,
Joyce El-Khoury’s naturally fast and highly
distinctive soprano is
hugely welcome in an age of increasing vocal
homogeneity; she
attacks the role’s considerable demands head-on
and delivers a
thrilling performance. This is an old-fashioned
performance, and
I mean that as the highest praise! Camilla
Roberts’s graceful Irene
provides a good vocal and dramatic foil.
Belisario is in the elegantly
understated hands of Nicola Alaimo, and Russell
Thomas’s Alamiro
reveals a rich tenor with appropriate squillo as
well as surprising
agility. A hugely interesting opera and
top-flight cast.